Pinocchio

Prepare to be whisked away to the scenic hills of sunny Italy where magic and adventure collide in a lively new musical adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s classic tale!

Geppetto, a lonely puppet maker, spends his days and nights working in his shop consumed by one simple wish: the company of a son. His greatest dream is realized when his favourite creation, Pinocchio, magically comes to life!

Join Pinocchio as he embarks on an incredible journey and encounters outlandish characters, perilous danger and Squalo, the giant shark of the Mediterranean.

Cast & Crew

Farren Timoteo

Artistic Director/Playwright/Director

Having made his directing debut with a fringe production of Songs for a New World in 2004, Farren became the Artistic Director of Alberta Opera in 2005 and subsequently directed The Frog Prince, Puss in Boots, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, and Jack and the Beanstalk (The latter three of which he has also served as co-author). Other directing credits include Be Arthurs: Reunion Tour (Fringe ’08), Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Mayfield Dinner Theatre), Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s, The Infinite Shiver (Teatro La Quindicina) and, most recently, Pippin with the Young Musical Theatre Company at the Citadel Theatre. In 2010, Farren, alongside composer Ryan Sigurdson, received an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Outstanding Score of a Play or Musical for Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s, to which he contributed the lyrics. Additionally, Farren’s direction of Hansel and Gretel and Jack and the Beanstalk garnered Sterling-Award nominations for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in Theatre for Young Audiences.

Jeff Unger

Artistic Director/Composer/Musical Director

This season mark’s Jeff’s 19th consecutive year as Musical Director for Alberta Opera. During this time he has watched the company grow into a major force in Alberta touring and one of Edmonton’s important theatrical voices. Past productions include: Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, The Red Shoes, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel and Jack and the Beanstalk. Along with collaborators Garner Butler and Farren Timoteo, Jeff has co-authored and composed music for thirteen fairy tale “pocket musicals.” Jeff’s work has been recognized by the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards on many occasions, acquiring nominations for Outstanding Musical Director for The Frog Prince and Jack and the Beanstalk as well as Outstanding Artistic Achievement in Theatre for Young Audiences for the Composition of Hansel and Gretel.

Adam Tsuyoshi Turnbull

Production Manager

Adam is a freelance theatre technician, carpenter, designer, and technical director. He likes bicycles, diesel engines, and eating sushi. He grew up on a farm.

Nonnie (Naomi) Lagerweij

Stage Manager

Nonnie (Naomi) Lagerweij is pleased as punch to be back with Alberta Opera this season. She originally hails from Edmonton, but moved down to Calgary this summer. Recent adventures include Stage Managing Kompany Family theatre's The Wizard That Was, Or was Not... and Cowardly Kiss Theatre's Bunburying! She has also Apprenticed at The Citadel on August: Osage County, Stage Managed Alberta Opera's last show, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Concrete Theatre's Under Cover. She has both Apprentice and Assistant Stage Managed for the Free Will Player's Shakespeare in the Park.

Leslea Kroll

Interim Tour Coordinator

Leslea has worked with various arts organizations in Edmonton including Metro Cinema and FAVA. In addition to administration, she is a playwright whose works include Domesticatrix, Swallow and Auksenberg: Trial by Fury. A collection of her poems titled Sturgeon is soon to be published by Broken Arrow Press. Leslea has enjoyed being part of the Alberta Opera family as Interim Tour Coordinator.

Daniela Masellis

Set and Costume Designer

Daniela is thrilled to be back again with the Alberta Opera team. She was last seen with them as Lighting Designer for Jack and the Beanstalk and Hansel and Grete. Daniela is an Edmonton based artist and theatre designer. Daniela’s training includes a ’07 B.F.A. in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta and a design apprenticeship abroad at the 'Teatro alla Scala’ in Milan, Italy. Selected design credits include; An Almost Perfect Thing Workshop West (set, costumes); Cuckoos Trouble in Little Italy (production); The Dazzle Shadow Theatre(set, lighting); Everyone Goes to Mitzi’s Teatro LaQuindicina (set,lighting) A Life in the Day Maggie Tree(production). She has also worked as Design Associate and builder for Catalyst Theatre productions of Nevermore and Hunchback.

Marie Muggeridge

Lighting Designer

Marie is delighted to be on the Alberta Opera team for the first time. She is a Theatre Design graduate of the University of Alberta. Recent projects include Pippin and Mill on the Floss with Citadel's Young Company (costumes and lighting) , and Keeping Peace with Soreal Surreal (production design). She also has a love for creating new art with old artifacts such as paper, jewelery and books. Enjoy the show!

Madelaine Knight

Pinocchio and Ensemble

Madelaine graduated in April from Grant MacEwan University's Theatre Arts Program and is itching to jump into the Theatre Scene! Before that, she spent six years as a member of St. Albert Children's Theatre. Past Credits include: Stephen Sondheim's Company, The Music Man, Once Upon A Mattress (Grant MacEwan), Seussical, Just So (St. Albert Children's Theatre). Maddy couldn't be more excited to be joining the cast of Alberta Opera's Pinocchio and hopes that you enjoy it!

Byron Martin

Geppetto and Ensemble

Byron has his MA in Musical Theatre Performance from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) and is also a graduate of the Theatre Arts Program at Grant MacEwan University. Byron is an Artistic Associate of !mpulse Theatre with which he recently toured Alberta in Boygroove which received a Sterling Nomination and the Fringe Volunteer Choice Award. You may have also seen Byron this year in Lucky Stiff (Edmonton Fringe) and Tick Tick…Boom(Azimuth). UK credits include Little Johnny’s Big Gay Wedding (National Theatre of Scotland), Three Sisters (The Citizens Theatre), Spring Awakening and In Touch(Edinburgh Fringe). Training Credits include Our Town, Another Cabaret About my Wife, Where’s Charley?, The Addlepated Nixie, Titanic and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Christopher Scott

Vincenzo and Ensemble

Chris Scott is extremely excited to be working with Alberta Opera He recently graduated from Macewan’s Theatre Arts program in spring of 2011, where he was seen as Ewart Dunlop in The Music Man and Paul in Company. He was most recently seen in Party Worth Crashing (JoHakyu Productions) at the 2011 Edmonton and Winnipeg international Fringe festivals. Other select credits include, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Women: The Musical, and Little Shop of Horrors (Carriage House Theatre). Chris could never be happier to be part of such a wonderful show with such a close group of colleagues.

Erik Mortimer

Accompanist

Erik is thrilled to be back on board for his third tour with Alberta Opera. Known for his energetic playing style, Erik has a love for many different styles of music. He was raised in Rossland BC and has a love for music and a drive for performing in many different styles.Erik is a graduate of the Grant MacEwan University music program in piano performance (2010). His previous credits in the theatre include accompanist for Alberta Opera’s Hansel and Gretel (2010) and Jack and the Beanstalk (2011), as well as a variety of roles throughout three seasons with the Gold Fever Follies in Rossland, including Musical director, actor, composer and accompanist (05,06 and 09). He also Music Directed Party Worth Crashing at the 2011 Edmonton Fringe Festival. You can here Erik in several groups around the city of Edmonton in many styles including Jazz, Rock, and many other types of music. Erik is excited for the opportunity to bring this show to many of the wonderful youth in Alberta.